In this profile, writer Brennen Jensen takes us inside a man’s heart and, well, stomach. For our food-themed issue, Jensen traveled to New York City to meet with Hopkins alum and legendary professional eater Crazy Legs Conti. Johns Hopkins is a university steeped in science and research, but we knew for our themed issue we should have some fun. But how do you go about profiling a man who’s eaten 32 dozen oysters in eight minutes? To start with, you sit down and slurp oysters with him. From the moment we meet Conti at the Grand Central Oyster Bar, Jensen skillfully portrays a man who, although past his eating prime, still specializes in excess. With funny asides aplenty, Jensen delivers on what would drive someone to devour 47 ears of corn-on-the-cob in 12 minutes, eat his way out of an 8-foot-tall container of popcorn and, of course, slurp all those raw oysters. Readers ate it up, and we’re fine with those who questioned why we would give this one alum so much attention. Like Conti, we had to go big.
From the Judges
Clever, humorous, and touching. Readers of this story find themselves in the good hands of an exemplary storyteller, who made the subject come alive. Bravo.
